What does Exodus 1:11 mean?

The first part of this verse notes the presence of taskmasters who managed the slave work of the Israelites. These men served to manage slave labor under Pharaoh's command. They afflicted them or oppressed them "with heavy burdens." This general phrase could refer to hard labor of any kind. However, the context is clear this work focused on building Pithom and Raamses. The Hebrew grammar used here is helpful, using a preterite with the vav consecutive in this sentence. This focuses on the idea that the building of these cities was "the result of" this decision by Pharaoh.

Because of the name Raamses, many have assumed the Pharaoh Raamses II was the leader of Egypt during Moses' time. However, that figure ruled far later than the chronology of the life of Moses and the Exodus from Egypt. This city existed by this name before the rule of Raamses or was perhaps used later to refer to an earlier city.

This part of the book of Exodus is crucial in understanding the Bible's view of slavery. The terms "slave" and "slavery" are used to mean a wide variety of things in Scripture. Here, under the harsh treatment of Egypt, Israel experiences the same kind of "slavery" which modern readers assume when encountering that term. This is forced, brutal, race-based, permanent, possessive slavery. The term often used for this practice is "chattel slavery," where the subjects are treated as sub-human and lacking in any rights. God's view of this practice will be made clear in His fierce judgment of Egypt, shown later in this same story.